03/17/2012 Sabbath Meeting Transcript

EliYah's message:

This is a continuation of last week and a bit of an introduction to another topic similar and related to the former topic. I thought we were going to talk about baptism this week, but Yahweh's Spirit told me "No, there is something else He had planned," I kept praying, and finally He showed me.

Anyway it is one we all need to heed and be careful about and pay attention to. Today's study topic is:

Yahushua is our Passover, Don't Murmur in the Wilderness

There is a correlation. Yahushua is our Passover Lamb that delivered us from Egypt, from the world, as we've been discussing in the previous broadcast at length, and a little bit yet today.

Now that we have been delivered from Egypt, let's be sure in this wilderness that we are in that we maintain a respectful, thankful attitude and not a complaining, murmuring, ugly attitude.

We are going to look at some examples of that in Scripture, and actually how, actually it was that kind of attitude, a negative attitude, that caused Yahweh to reject the nation of Israel from entering the Promised Land, all except two. It was their children. Israel entered in, but not very many, only two.

Only two were willing to trust Yahweh, to completely put their faith in Yahweh to deliver them and to show them the way into the land. They believed in Yahweh's love and His grace and His compassion, if they would simply do what Yahweh had told them to do.

We all know the story, but we are going to see if we can look at some of their examples and learn from them.

If you've missed a couple of broadcasts, we've been discussing Passover quite a bit, and we understand, in the same way Yahweh
delivered the children of Israel from Egypt, from Pharaoh, Yahweh has delivered us from this world, Egypt and all its glory, and delivered us from Pharaoh, which is Satan, and from his taskmasters, the demons.

He has shown us His superiority over all the gods of this world, anything that anyone would seek to give homage to or pay unnecessary attention to. Yahweh has delivered us and shown us that He is superior to anything that this world could have to offer.

Because of that, we've chosen to turn our backs on Egypt and move forward. He
delivered us from our past through the Passover Lamb.

We don't have to look back. If we put our hand to the plow, and we look back, it says then we've not fit for the kingdom of heaven. Yahushua told us that. Don't even look back. Don't even gaze at Egypt, because it is not a good place, and you tend to go where your eye leads you, don't you?

So He is the One slain for us, and on the day of Passover, we understand Yahushua ha Mashiach, the Anointed One, died at the 9th hour, which is the exact hour when the Passover lambs were being slaughtered in Jerusalem in the 1st century. He died at that exact hour.

All of the children of Israel are commanded to partake of the Passover lamb. After having slain the lamb then you partake of the Passover Lamb.

That they would do, and in the same way they did, we do. Only we understand Yahushua ha Mashiach to be our Passover Lamb. We don't kill a physical lamb. Number 1, it is against Torah to do so. It says you shall not kill the Passover within your gates, according to Deuteronomy 16. You shall go to the place Yahweh chooses.

And the way it was done, for instance Josiah' Passover, they just found the book of the law, and what did they do? The priests were the ones who sprinkled the blood of the Passover lamb. That was their role to do in Yerushalayim (Jerusalem.) So Yahushua was killed, and a death in
the Sanhedrin in Yerushalayim, and He died at that exact hour.

So He is our Passover. With this The Scriptures agree.

1Corinthians 5:6 - Your glorying [is] not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?

1Corinthians 5:7 - Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Messiah, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.

Therefore the feast days are done away with. Is that what it says? No.

1Corinthians 5:8 - Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened [bread] of sincerity and truth.

We are warned that as we observe this feast, we need to get the leaven out, not only out of our homes, but also out of our lives, the spiritual leaven. We need to get that out of our lives. It is interesting to me that right after Yahushua haMashiach is offered for us on the day of Passover, we partake of unleavened bread.

He is the sinless Lamb, the lamb without blemish. We partake of His body , then we are unleavened.

We are unleavened because he cleanses us from all sin. So when we partake of this unleavened bread for the 7 days of the feast, possibly representing the 7000 years of mankind on the earth, in need of a Passover Lamb to cleanse them from their sins.

So we should keep this feast, and once we have been cleansed and washed of our sins with the blood of the Lamb, let's live out His life.

After all it is He who lives in us. It is not longer we who live. We've partaken of Him. He has cleansed us, He has made us righteous in the eyes of Yahweh. That is the Good News. That's the Good News of Yahushua haMashiach.

Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin [is] death, but the gift of Elohim [is] eternal life in Messiah Yahushua our Master.

Once we repent, we accept Him, that means we are not walking in the old ways anymore. We're turning away from those things, and we have our eyes fixed on the new Yerushalayim that will come out of heaven one day. We will reign from Yerushalayim, from the land, if we are found worthy to attain that age, to attain eternal life.

Reign with Messiah for a thousand years.

Then a new Yerushalayim will come down, a new heavens and a new earth, and it will be glorious. Since we got this leaven out of us, let's
live our lives unleavened. That is the admonition here in 1 Corinthians 5.

There is a lot of emphasis today on what Messiah has done for man, but not a whole lot of emphasis on what Messiah wants to do IN man, which is to perfect us, to conform us into the image of His Son.

Acts 2:38 - Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Yahushua Messiah for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

In the Name of what? Jesus Christ? No, in the Name they were calling upon which is Yahushua the Messiah. We will be talking next week about baptism, at length, Yahweh willing. We have to repent, we have to turn away from our former ways.

And since we have turned away from our former ways, then we are going to walk in a new way. That is the way of repentance.

Are we ready to recognize this? This word right here, repent, may be one of the most important words in the Scripture. We have to understand what that means. It means to turn away from your former things and turn toward this newness of life.

As the waters of the Red Sea separated the children of Israel from the ways of Egypt and from the enemy's grasp, so baptismal waters separate us from the enemy's grasp and from the ways of Egypt, the ways of the world that we were formerly involved in.

1Corinthians 10:1 - Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea,

1Corinthians 10:2 - all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,

They were baptized in the sea. That would be water baptism, and the cloud is representing the Holy Spirit. That is being baptized in the Spirit. See, the imagery just carries all the way through that our plan of salvation is literally written in the history of the children of Israel.

As I shared last week, I believe that is completely divine and just further proof that this New Testament is the inspired Word, and no one could have made this
up. this is definitely a divine thing happening here.

They went through the water and the Sea of Reeds, and in the same way we are separated from the world. We've made that decision.

As they saw the bodies of the old men washing up on the shore, the same way our old man dies. There is an old song actually written by a believer in Yahweh that says, "An old man drowned in the river this morning, and a new man rose up and took his place."

That's the old man, the ways of the body of sin, which is dead. The old man of Egypt died in the waters of the sea. Our old man dies.

We don't even know that man anymore. He's a different person, and now we are a new person, separating us from Egypt. Now, what happened after He brought them out of Egypt? They've got this Red Sea behind them, what happened then? He immediately tested them. For 3 days no water. What was their response?

Were they still thankful for what Yahweh had done or did they begin to lose their thankfulness and the joy of their salvation? That is an important question for you, for me, for all of us. Are we losing that joy of salvation through Him?

He tested them. He brought them through this wilderness, and they ate manna. We also partake of the manna that comes down from heaven when we partake of Messiah.

In the same way He taught them Torah, He also teaches us His Torah and feeds us with words of everlasting life. We need to also be led by the fire and the cloud, by the Spirit of Yahweh through this wilderness that we are in, through this dry and thirsty land that is not our own, this land that is not under the headship of Yahweh.

We're going to endure tests and trials and tribulations and temptations as we go through this wilderness, but at the end, we cross the Jordan into the Promised Land. Yahweh wants to know what is in our heart, whether we will keep His commandment or not. That is what He wants to know.

1Corinthians 10:3 - all ate the same spiritual food,

1Corinthians 10:4 - and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Messiah.

They partook of the fountain of living waters. Yahushua haMashiach. What happened?

1Corinthians 10:5 But with most of them
Elohim was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the
wilderness.

1Corinthians 10:6 Now these
things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil
things as they also lusted.

1Corinthians 10:7 And do not become idolaters as
were some of them. As it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink,
and rose up to play."

1Corinthians 10:8 Nor let us commit sexual
immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell;

1Corinthians 10:9 - nor let us tempt Messiah, as
some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents;

1Corinthians 10:10 nor complain, as some of them
also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer.

You may not see someone physically die as a result of falling to temptations, but we do see brothers fall away, and there is no difference. If you're killed spiritually, you're no longer alive. You've entered the gates of death and unless you repent and turn back to Messiah, there is no way back.

So we see these same temptations today that they faced in their time in the wilderness.

You might not see 23,000 fall in one day, but we know that this world is not easy. It will bring temptations to our lives, and we daily have to make the choice of whether we are going to let Yahweh lead us, or whether we want to go back to Egypt.

1Corinthians 10:10 - nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer.

1Corinthians 10:11 - Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

1Corinthians 10:12 - Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

Since these things are written for our admonition, don't you think we ought to make sure that we read these things that they went through, and make sure that we are not doing what they did.

We partake of the Lamb, and we appreciate the things Messiah has done for us in separating us from the world, from Egypt, from Pharaoh, the enemy, the taskmaster, the demons. We appreciate all that, but now what?

How do we show our appreciation? Let's pay attention to what caused them to fall and see if we might be finding ourselves in some of these patterns that they were in.

1Corinthians 10:13 - No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but Elohim [is] faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear [it].

There will always be a way of escape. Always. You cannot blame anyone for your sin. Everyone falls into this one, and that makes it okay. That is what they did in the wilderness, as we're going to see.

1Corinthians 10:13 - No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but Elohim [is] faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear [it].

1Corinthians 10:14 - Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

1Corinthians 10:15 - I speak as to wise men; judge for yourselves what I say.

1Corinthians 10:16 - The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Messiah? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Messiah?

1Corinthians 10:17 - For we, [though] many, are one bread [and] one body; for we all partake of that one bread.

So we are back to Passover discussion. This is all in the context of Passover Discussion. Do we see how their walk and our walk are very much the same. We see the Messiah in their example, the Lamb, in their walk and the things they went through. Do we see the need to not be like them?

They are examples of what not to do. We can do this in our life.

We can live our life and see people doing things that are wrong and let that tempt us, or we can choose to see the things people are doing wrong and say, "That is an example to me of what not to do."

We can learn the lesson the way of wisdom and not be the kind of people that always have to learn the hard way, always finding out the hard way not to do something.

We can be people who listen and are attentive to the Word of Yahweh who are looking for examples of men, examples of women, who are upright in their conduct and righteous in their behavior, imitating that and learning from the example of men who are not upright in their conduct and behavior, and saying, "I don't want to be like that."

We see in Scripture there are plenty of examples of bad
behavior.

We are called to learn from those examples and not repeat their mistakes. And there are examples of good behavior, which we are called to emulate. All of Scripture is really unity with each other.

When you look at Torah, when you look at the children of Israel, our ancestors, we are adopted into the olive tree of Israel, we are grafted in, and now are the seed of Abraham through Messiah.

Let's not do what our mommies and daddies did. Let's not do what they did. Let's do what Yahushua did when He was faced with temptations and trials and difficulties. Let's get away from this Old Testament versus New Testament mindset that keeps us from really learning from these examples.

Let's be sure that we are willing to feed on the Word of Yahweh and not allow the trials and prunings we go through in this land to cause us to fall out of grace in some way. Let's receive His Word. Let's receive the trials. That's part of life.

Let's overcome in these trials and always remember that no matter where we are, if we follow the cloud, we are exactly where Yahweh wants us to be.

We don't have any right to complain about any circumstances we are in. That's what they did. The cloud led them over here. Well, there's not any water, and they whine and complain about that. They complain and murmur in their tents. We don't want to do that.

We don't want to be like them because Yahweh is the one forming us. He is the one molding us into His image.

If you are not following Yahweh's lead, and you find yourself in trouble, you can't blame Him for that. You've got only yourself to blame for that. Either way, we have no rights to complain about what we're going through, no matter what. We can choose one of two things.

We can rejoice in our trials, knowing that our brothers and sisters around the world are going through the same things, or we can complain about it.

Deuteronomy 8:3 - "So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every [word] that proceeds from the mouth of YAHWEH.

Moses is speaking. That's what we need, isn't it? We need humbling. He allowed you to hunger. So we don't have our physical needs provided for? Not always. You won't starve to death, but He might let you hunger a little bit. Man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of Yahweh.

That is exactly why our trials are there, to teach us that man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of Yahweh.

Some people say, 'We only live by the New Testament Words. No, we can't live by those words in the Old Testament. Those are words of death. We can't live by those words. Hu-uh," Yahweh says man lives by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of Yahweh.

And I believe it. Yahweh said it. I don't care when He said it. If it came out of His mouth, what are you going to do? So seek to live by every word.

And Yahushua says that He is that bread.

John 6:58 - "This is the bread which came down from heaven -- not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever."

You see, He is the Word. He was the Word back in Deuteronomy 8. And He is the Word in the New Testament also. He is not just the Word in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, He is the living Word in Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy and all the other books. So we partake of that Word, and we live forever.

As we partake of our Passover, the body of Messiah which is broken for us, the unleavened bread, we partake of that unleavened Word, that sinless Word, that we might be sinless also, and so that the Word becomes us, and we become the Word, in the same way Yahushua is the Word, in the same way we are being conformed into the image of His Son.

So we, as children of Israel, are in a time of learning.

We are learning the Torah. We are learning the law of Yahweh, just like they were. And the word Torah is the Hebrew word for law. We are not talking about Rabbis' laws. We are talking about Yahweh's laws. And we are going to encounter trials and temptations just like they did, but you know what?

We are advancing. We're advancing to the Promised Land, and we've already accepted the King of the
kingdom to come.

We want Him to reign over us, so we've got to keep our eyes on that. Moshe never led them into the land of promise. Yahweh never used Moshe to lead them into the Promised Land because even Moshe himself failed. Even Moshe himself sinned when he said, "Hear now, you rebels, must we bring forth water out of the rock?"

And he struck the rock twice, as if he was the one bringing the water out.

He didn't even need to strike the rock. He just had to speak to the rock. He did not follow Yahweh before the eyes of the people. He didn't believe Yahweh. That is what Yahweh said, "because you did not believe Me. You did not make Me holy in the eyes of the people. You will not bring these children into the Promised Land."

So even Moshe failed in His obedience to Yahweh.

We can't rely upon the law of Moshe to bring us into the Promised Land. We can't rely upon Moshe's words alone to take us into the Promised Land. He can only take us so far, and we are going to realize we will fall short. We need a man named Yahushua to take us over the Jordan, just like they did.

Joshua was the one who brought them across the Jordan, and that word Joshua is the same name as our Savior, Yahushua.

And he was the one that brought them over the Jordan. Moshe couldn't lead them over the Jordan, it took a man named Yahushua to lead them there. In the same way, we can't rely upon our own works to bring us over the Jordan.

We need a man named Yahushua haMashiach to take us over the Jordan. Brothers, inspiration of Scripture, there you go. I mean, who could have made that one up? .

We are being taught this important lesson. This is not just a Pauline idea or Paul's idea that justification is by faith alone. Justification by faith is even seen in the Torah itself pointing us to the need of the Messiah. Yes, Moshe teaches us the right way to live.

Yes, the Scriptures tell us what we need to do, and we should follow it, but in
actuality, for us to enter into the Promised Land, we need Yahushua.

In the same way no one could cross the Jordan without Yahushua, the son of Nun, no one will cross the Jordan without Yahushua, Son of Elohim. The greater ministry is the ministry that gives us the righteousness we need to cleanse us from our sins so we can enter the land. In order to enter the land we need Yahushua haMashiach.

Even Moshe himself, when he struck the rock and water came out, there is imagery in that, too.

John 19:34 - But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.

Moses, himself, being a sinner also struck the rock. We've all struck the rock because of our sin. We have brought this need about for the Messiah to be struck for us, to be pierced. All this is not done, brothers, not by accident. This is all done for a purpose, and that is to show Yahweh's plan for us, His awesome plan.

Those with the eyes to see will rejoice and seek to live within that plan.

The question is whether we are going to receive that offer for salvation, whether we are going to accept that love that He offers us, whether we are going to believe in His plan for us. Are we going to walk out
His plan for us? Because in the same way he had a plan for Israel, He has a plan for our lives.

He has a plan for your life, a plan for my life, a calling that He has placed on your life, a calling He has placed on my life.

Our responsibility is to walk in that calling. He put a calling on Yahushua's life. Yahushua went through that, and He never complained one time. So let's learn from the mistakes of the stiff-necked, and beware, lest some of us might also fall short of entering His rest.

1Corinthians 10:8 - Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell;

1Corinthians 10:9 - nor let us tempt Messiah, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents;

1Corinthians 10:10 - nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer.

Let's learn from some of their examples. In the midst of our trials, we have to remember that we are a people who are greatly blessed. If the only thing Yahweh ever did for us was save us from our sins and deliver us and cleanse our sins, if that was the only thing He ever did, wouldn't that be good enough?

Would that be sufficient? Would His grace be sufficient for us?

That is our question, or do we make demands in our hearts for more? That is the question.

So don't be anxious for anything. You make your prayer up to Yahweh, and if He thinks it is best to answer that according to what you want, then give Yahweh praise. If He doesn't, if He says no, trust
Him . He knows better than you do. And don't be anxious for anything. That is our calling.

It is not necessarily easy. I didn't say anything about easy, but that is our calling. That is very important for us to remember.

Philippians says with thanksgiving. When you make that request, don't just make a request, be thankful for what you do have. It says make your request, in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving. Be thankful for what you already have and maybe, just maybe, Yahweh will give you more.

I know people today who curse themselves all the time because they are not thankful for what they have.

So they don't get their prayers answered according to what they want. It is when we are thankful for the little things that we have, which really are big things, that we will receive, maybe if Yahweh so desires, more things. But like I said, if He only saved us from our sins and granted us access to the heavenly places, wouldn't that be enough?

I would think so. We don't deserve anything more than that, do we?

Can we knock on the door and say, "Hey, I deserve more. Where are my rights?"

We are not going to be able to break out our constitution in those days and say we deserve... It is not going to work. Scripture says to be content with what we have.

1Timothy 6:6 - Now godliness with contentment is great gain.

1Timothy 6:7 - For we brought nothing into [this] world, [and it is] certain we can carry nothing out.

Did you have anything in your hand when you were born? Here you go, Mom and Dad, I brought this with me. No, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. You can put it in your casket, but you can't bring it with you.

1Timothy 6:8 - And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.

Yahweh knows we need food and we need clothing, but even if He decides not to provide food for awhile, realize He is our provider. He will provide some how, some way. As long as we are willing to work, He will provide. So having food and clothing be content therewith.

So if you have food and clothing, hopefully everybody here has food and clothing, be content with it. Think about that.

All the concerns and worries in life, you don't have to be worried. You don't have to be concerned. We have a Father who provides what we need, and all we really need is food and clothing. And be content with that. Yahushua had no place to lay His head.

He said, foxes have holes, birds have nests. He didn't have anywhere to lay
His head. He just went about life as a homeless man.

He had a home in the heavenlies, but on earth, He was homeless. So were the disciples. A group of homeless men turned the world upside down. The Israelites were homeless men. Of course they had tents, but hey were not content with food and clothing.

Yahweh was not pleased with them because of their lack of contentment.

Numbers 11:1 - Now [when] the people complained, it displeased YAHWEH; for YAHWEH heard [it], and His anger was aroused. So the fire of YAHWEH burned among them, and consumed [some] in the outskirts of the camp.

Does that get your attention how Yahweh feels about complaining? I hope so. The fire of Yahweh comes. Yahweh is very serious about it. He doesn't like when we murmur and complain about our circumstances. We should believe Yahweh when He says He will take care of us, and remember the blessings that we do have.

He is a good Father, He knows exactly what we need.

There were some who didn't complain, but most of them did complain. As they were about ready to enter the Promised Land, Moshe sent out spies, and some of the spies brought back this report that caused people to fear. Then Caleb spoke.

Numbers 13:30 - Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, "Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it."

Numbers 13:31 - But the men who had gone up with him said, "We are not able to go up against the people, for they [are] stronger than we."

Numbers 13:32 - And they gave the children of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, "The land through which we have gone as spies [is] a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it [are] men of [great] stature.

Numbers 13:33 - "There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight."

Oh, come on. That's not even true. Giants. So what did the people do?

Numbers 14:1 - So all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and the people wept that night.

Boo hoo hoo. Why? We went through all of this, and the land is not even a good land, and the people are just too strong for us. We won't be able to overcome it.

What is the correlation to us? Ho does this apply to us? Do not say, brothers, that you cannot overcome that temptation. Yahushua set you free. Do not say that your circumstances are too difficult that lie ahead. Do not fear the future, and do not complain about the present, or complain about what you think the future may hold.

Yahweh is well able to overcome those giants in our life. He is well able to do so.

Numbers 14:2 - And all the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, "If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness!

First they were complaining that they were going to die in the wilderness. Now they wish they had died in the wilderness.

Numbers 14:3 - "Why has YAHWEH brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?"

Out of fear. Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt? Out of fear. We face giants in our own life, difficult situations, things that are hard to overcome. With the power of Yahweh in us, we can overcome it.

When we start fearing instead of walking in faith, sometimes it prompts a desire in our hearts to return to the former ways, the ways of Mitzrayim, the ways of Egypt. Let it not be so. Let it not be so.

In response to this whole situation, Yahweh said:

Numbers 14:27 - "How long [shall I bear with] this evil congregation who complain against Me? I have heard the complaints which the children of Israel make against Me.

Numbers 14:28 - "Say to them, `As I live,' says YAHWEH, `just as you have spoken in My hearing, so I will do to you:

Numbers 14:29 - `The carcasses of you who have complained against Me shall fall in this wilderness, all of you who were numbered, according to your entire number, from twenty years old and above.

Wow. Do we see the magnitude of this example? It was for the reason of a lack of faith and a complaining attitude that Yahweh wanted to destroy Israel and not let them enter the Promised Land. At least the generation that got delivered by the blood of the Lamb.

I say we need to learn from this one. It says these things are written for our examples. It was because of their complaints which rose up out of their lack of faith.

It was because specifically, it says specifically, what did they do to Him. It says they complained against Him, so they will fall in the wilderness. So we need to learn from this and seek to have this attitude of "Rejoice in Yahweh always." As the song goes.

And have the attitude of thanksgiving and not be anxious for anything, knowing we have made a request known to Yahweh.

He will take care of things according to what He thinks is best. He created us from dust, He knows how to lead us.

Romans 9:20 - But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against Elohim? Will the thing formed say to him who formed [it], "Why have you made me like this?"

Romans 9:21 - Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?

Some of us He has made for honor. Some for dishonor. He is the Potter, we are the clay. So when we go through circumstances, in the end, many who are first will be last, and last first. There are some people who are not getting much honor today who will get a tremendous amount of honor in the age to come.

And there are people who are getting honor today who won't be getting as much honor in the days to come.

They will get some. Our goal is not this world minded, what we get in this age, it is the age to come. After all, what is our life in this world? A little speck in the universe compared to eternity? Just a little speck.
Our trials are normal. They are a normal part of walking with Yahweh, just as it was part of their walking in the desert.

1Peter 4:12 - Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;

1Peter 4:13 - but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Messiah's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.

Rejoice when you partake in His sufferings.

1Peter 4:14 - If you are reproached for the name of Messiah, blessed [are you], for the Spirit of glory and of Elohim rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.

How is that? How is the Messiah glorified when you suffer? How is the Spirit of glory and Elohim rest upon you when people reproach you because you are a believer? How is that possible?

You see, when we undergo suffering, and in that suffering we choose to not bow to pressure, we choose to be thankful for what we have, and we choose to glorify Yahweh anyway in it and praise Him for it, you know what we're doing?

We are justifying Yahweh rather than ourselves. When we justify Yahweh rather than ourselves, in the midst of very difficult circumstances, that does glorify Him because people are going to say, ' Why do you still rejoice?'

Especially if they try to kill you or something. 'Why are you rejoicing when I'm ready to kill you?' 'Because I have a greater hope than you do.'

Yahweh's ways are right, and our life in this world is not where it's at. So I don't fear those that kill the body but cannot touch the soul. I fear the one who has the power to touch both body and soul. That glorifies Him and compels people to wonder, what is this hope that is in you?

If you get persecuted at work for observing Shabbat, or someone makes fun of you for something you do for Yahweh, consider that to be a glory to Him, because when you endure that persecution, a lot of people, they may not like what you do, but they will respect you if you stand for what you believe is right.

They will respect that. It is part of our life in Messiah. You have to be willing to suffer and suffer shame for His sake.

If we're too ashamed of Him, it says He will be ashamed of us in the age to come, and we don't want that. When the disciples went through these trials, they didn't complain. They didn't take that as an opportunity to complain. They took that as an opportunity to rejoice.

Acts 14:21 - And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch,

Acts 14:22 - strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting [them] to continue in the faith, and [saying], "We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of Elohim."

They understood. Trials are there, not for our harm, but for our good that we might enter the kingdom of Elohim.

James 5:7 - Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Master. See [how] the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.

James 5:8 - You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Master is at hand.

We don't have any reason to complain about anything. If we've chosen to trust in Yahweh with all our heart, lean not to our own understanding, fear Yahweh to depart from evil, we have no reason to whine or complain about anything that happens to us.

It is all Yahweh ordained. It is all there for our good to perfect us, to lead us into the image of His Son, Yahushua.

There is even a tendency to maybe not complain about circumstances, but to grumble and complain about each other, what other people do to us, even people in the body of Messiah. Sorry, you have no right to complain about that either.

James 5:9 - Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!

Whoa! Did you get that one? Lest you be condemned! What do you mean, I would be condemned if I complained about someone else? Lest you be condemned. You see, when we complain about others, then we get judged with the same judgment.

If we are judged with the same judgment with which we hold others, if others sinned against us. Guess what? We are just as guilty. We sin against others all the time.

Knowingly or unknowingly. So when you feel the need to complain about somebody else, remember the door. Remember the door. There is a judge standing at the door.

James 5:10 - My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of YAHWEH, as an example of suffering and patience.

James 5:11 - Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end [intended by] YAHWEH -- that YAHWEH is very compassionate and merciful.

James 5:12 - But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your "Yes," be "Yes," and [your] "No," "No," lest you fall into judgment.

We have no right to speak evil of each other, or to grumble about each other. I think a lot of us need to pay real close attention to this, especially when it comes to our families, our home life that we live. Sometimes there is too much of that going on, speaking evil of each other.

And also brothers outside our family. So we don't complain about anyone, about anything, or about any circumstance
we're going through for any reason.

We don't complain. Whenever I call this brother in Ohio, he says, "Oh, I can't complain." I say, "Yeah, you're right. Scripture says not to." Because we can't. Everything we are going through is there for a reason, so don't complain about your wife.

You can't complain. Right? I hope so. Do we see the dangers of it? We may not recognize it, but we are actually grumbling against Yahweh. Yahweh is the one leading us through this wilderness. He is taking us over here, and what are we doing? 'Oh, I don't like this.

This is awful circumstances.' No, it should be,

'I take this circumstance as Yahweh is teaching me something through this, and I'm going to try to learn from it. I'm going to try to live through it.' If you have a difficult marriage, don't complain about your spouse. Yahweh is using that to refine you and your character, especially wife complaining about her husband.

Now I'm not trying to make it uneven. A husband shouldn't complain about his wife either.

But there is something unique about someone under authority complaining about the one who Yahweh has placed in authority. It says the husband is the head of the wife as the Messiah is the head of the assembly, so Yahweh is the one who has placed husbands in the position. Now I didn't ask for it. I didn't say, 'here, I want the authority.'

No, He gave us husbands headship of the family causing us to bear the responsibility for the outcome. Responsibility without headship is a joke because if you can't have the headship, and yet you're responsible for what happens, it just doesn't work. You have to have the headship.

If you had a roomful of 30 children, and you weren't able to direct them or guide them or tell them anything to do, and yet you are responsible for the way that the time goes, that wouldn't work. You would have to have the authority in order to function.

If one of those children complained about you, you could, in turn, go to the ones who put in that position of authority, and say, "I'm trying to do this right, but one of these children doesn't want to accept as being in authority here.

If Yahweh put someone in that position of headship, then don't complain about that. An example about that follows, and again, I'm not trying to be unfair.

It is not good for a husband to complain about His wife, but I want to draw some attention to this. See if you can understand what I am saying.

Numbers 16:1 - Now Korah the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, with Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took [men];

Numbers 16:2 - and they rose up before Moses with some of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation, representatives of the congregation, men of renown.

Numbers 16:3 - They gathered together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, "[You take] too much upon yourselves, for all the congregation [is] holy, every one of them, and YAHWEH [is] among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of YAHWEH?"

See they didn't accept Moshe's headship. They said, "Hey, we're holy just like you are." Why are you exalting yourself? Yahweh gave Moshe the responsibility to bring them up out of the land of Mitzrayim and into the Promised Land, so he had to have the authority.

It goes hand in hand. They weren't willing to accept his authority.

Did Moses stand up and say, 'You bad, bad people. I'm the boss here. You listen to me. Do what I say.' No, he didn't assert himself. So husbands take a lesson here. I've been guilty of this. Take a lesson here. Don't assert yourself.

Trust in Yahweh. They didn't understand it. They were holy like Moshe. And wives, maybe some of you have a hard time understanding. You're holy, too. You have wisdom, too.

Why is your husband in the position of headship? Yahweh gave it to him because he is the one responsible. Same thing with Moshe. Yahweh gave it to him. He is the one responsible. They didn't like it. Why should Moshe and Aaron be above them?
So what did Moshe do?

Numbers 16:4 - So when Moses heard [it], he fell on his face;

Numbers 16:5 - and he spoke to Korah and all his company, saying, "Tomorrow morning YAHWEH will show who [is] His and [who is] holy, and will cause [him] to come near to Him. That one whom He chooses He will cause to come near to Him.

Numbers 16:6 - "Do this: Take censers, Korah and all your company;

Numbers 16:7 - "put fire in them and put incense in them before YAHWEH tomorrow, and it shall be [that] the man whom YAHWEH chooses [is] the holy one. [You take] too much upon yourselves, you sons of Levi!"

Numbers 16:8 - Then Moses said to Korah, "Hear now, you sons of Levi:

Numbers 16:9 - "[Is it] a small thing to you that the Elohim of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Himself, to do the work of the tabernacle of YAHWEH, and to stand before the congregation to serve them;

Numbers 16:10 - "and that He has brought you near [to Himself], you and all your brethren, the sons of Levi, with you? And are you seeking the priesthood also?

They weren't satisfied with their position. They wanted to move up in the ranks. Yahweh had given them the position of authority in the congregation, but they wanted Moshe's job. They wanted to be the bosses. In the same way we have households today, brothers, and believe me, I'm not claiming to have the perfect household myself.

We have households today where headship is not recognized as being important.

We live in a women's lib society. Even though Yahweh has placed the husbands in the position of authority, the wife wants the position. She is holy also, so why can't she also be the one ruling?

Ideally, we have a husband-wife partnership where the husband's authority is not questioned, and he can take her to his side, and they can work together as heirs of the grace of life and be on the same page as Yahweh Himself.

It is not always that way. So what happened?

Numbers 16:11 - "Therefore you and all your company [are] gathered together against YAHWEH. And what [is] Aaron that you complain against him?"

Numbers 16:12 - And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, but they said, "We will not come up!

Not gathered against Moshe, but against Yahweh (vs 11) Moshe called them and they said, "We are not going to come up." So they just outright disobeyed him. Who are you, basically. So they said to Moshe:

Numbers 16:13 - "[Is it] a small thing that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, that you should keep acting like a prince over us?

Get that? So, so, so disrespectful. They were saying, "Oh, Moshe, you brought us up out of a land that was flowing with milk and honey. You took us out of the land flowing with milk and honey, Egypt, to kill us in the wilderness."

People were dying in the wilderness. Because of their own disobedience. They didn't included that part. They gave up the idea of following Moshe any further.

They didn't think Moshe was doing a good enough job, so they wanted to take over his position. They wanted his job. He's not a good leader. All these people are dying, and it's just not working out. You're not bringing us into the land.

In fact, you brought us out of the land of milk and honey. Now you're killing us in the wilderness in the wilderness. They were blaming Moshe for their own sin. Same thing today.

The wife complains about the husband's headship, so she decides to take over. It shouldn't be that way.

Now we'll look at what happened a little bit later. Their equal rights movement didn't last very long. Their 'Sons of Korah liberation movement' didn't last very long.

Numbers 16:31 - Now it came to pass, as he finished speaking all these words, that the ground split apart under them,

Numbers 16:32 - and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the men with Korah, with all [their] goods.

Numbers 16:33 - So they and all those with them went down alive into the pit; the earth closed over them, and they perished from among the assembly.

So the 'Sons of Korah liberation movement' was pretty short lived. We can't question what Yahweh has done, even if it looks like things aren't going the way they should.

It doesn't mean that husbands are perfect or anywhere near Moshe's class of leadership, but when Yahweh puts a person in that position, you don't question it, you just walk it out. Yahweh will take care of the rest. We see what happened to them.

Do you think that Yahweh is pleased when houses are out of order? I don't think so. I'm not trying to assert myself. I am just pointing out this for everyone's sake, that we don't murmur, we don't complain.

I've seen, many times in my life where a wife will be put in her place by
Yahweh Himself, and they'll complain about that, even what happened there. And what happened in Numbers? They did the same thing.

Numbers 16:41 - On the next day all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron, saying, "You have killed the people of YAHWEH."

What did they say? Wow, Moshe, you really are the boss. You really are the one Yahweh has put in authority. No, they said, "You've killed the people of Yahweh!" As if Moshe opened up the earth and swallowed them up. It was getting to the point of ridiculousness.

When Yahweh put Moshe in that position, we should respect that.

I think the same is true for us men that we need to respect the laws of the land that we are living in, to the extent that they don't break the laws of Yahweh, and set the example of obedience to authority in our household.

But if we are, you know, the speed demons going down the road violating every traffic law and ignoring man's law, we are just as rebellious. Yahweh puts people in authority, according to Scripture.

He raises kings. He throws them down. So we have to set that example of obedience to authority. We are going to work at a job somewhere. We should be respectful and obedient to the bosses at work. Don't be like the other guys who complain about the bosses.

Be respectful and show proper reverence. Yahweh has put them in that position, allowed them to be in a position of leadership over you. Don't be rebellious.

Treat them as if they were an authority that came from Yahweh, just the same way as wives.

Ephesians 5:22 - Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to Yahweh.

Ephesians 5:23 - For the husband is head of the wife, as also Messiah is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.

Ephesians 5:24 - Therefore, just as the church is subject to Messiah, so [let] the wives [be] to their own husbands in everything.

The principles of authority are always the same. I know this is not a popular message today amongst most circles in the world. That doesn't mean the husband is greater than the wife. Not so. It is just He has given the husband a different job, a different duty.

Those who are wise will take it seriously. Wives will take it seriously.

And us men, we need to not be Ahabs, and not be spiritual wimps who are afraid to speak with any kind of authority in our households. Yahweh has given all of us jobs to do, and we need to take them seriously. We need to be willing to stand firm for what is right, not take advantage, not control, not force. Even Yahweh doesn't do that.

But rely upon Yahweh to get our wives attention, if He needs to, in the same way He got their attention. Hopefully not through opening the ground. He has other ways of getting our wives' attention. We have to be patient in that, and we have to honor our wives, not dishonor.

Today men are equally dissatisfied with their position of leadership, and they pass the buck and give that
position of leadership to the wives.

Then they will complain about the wife and blame the wife for the lack of things going properly and for their lack of being responsible in their position of leadership.

No matter what, we should not despise our duty before Yahweh, lest we fall into the same condemnation as the children of Israel who did not respect their place and their duty, but sought to exalt themselves, nor shirk it or disregard it. It is a gift and a blessing.

Order is a gift and blessing from Yahweh. We should consider that to be so. Yahweh wants a meek and content people. Being meek and being content will exalt and glorify Him. He is especially glorified when we refuse to complain, but instead rejoice in our trials, in our circumstances that may seem unfair.

Think about Joseph, in the Bible. Joseph was a righteous man. He did no wrong. He was sold as a slave by his own brothers. He could have spent the rest of his life complaining about his circumstances. Not so. What did he do?

Genesis 37:28 - Then Midianite traders passed by; so [the brothers] pulled Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty [shekels] of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt.

A perfect time to complain about how evil those brothers are. What did he do?

Genesis 39:1 - Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there.

What did he do? He made the best of his circumstances.

Genesis 39:4 - So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all [that] he had he put under his authority.

He made the best of it. He was respectful and obedient to the authority in the house, blessed the one who was in authority in the house. Then what happened? Potiphar made him the overseer of his house. He put everything he had under Joseph's authority.

He took the right attitude, and he was blessed. There is no record of him murmuring or complaining about his circumstances.

Later he was falsely accused and thrown into prison. What did Joseph do?

Genesis 39:21 - But YAHWEH was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

After this Yahweh gave Joseph interpretation of 2 dreams the servants of Pharaoh had. And he said, "Please tell Pharaoh for me that I didn't do anything wrong, and I don't deserve this, and maybe he'll let me go." Two years went by. Nobody.

Joseph was patient and committed himself to Yahweh who judges righteously. Ultimately, Yahweh delivered him and made him second in command over Egypt.

In order for us to be adequate in authority, we have to be people who are willing to live under it. First you have to be able to follow the rules, then you'll know how to enforce them. We, as children of Yahweh, need to follow that example.

Even if we are treated unfairly our entire lives, we wait patiently for the salvation of Yahweh. The truth is, Yahushua is coming soon, His reward is with Him, and we will be rulers in the land.

Revelation 5:9 - And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to Elohim by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,

Revelation 5:10 - And have made us kings and priests to our Elohim; And we shall reign on the earth."

But we have to submit to our circumstances on the earth because that is
submission to Yahweh Himself. He is the one in leadership over us. We submit to Him. Any submission we do to others in this world today is an act of submission to Yahweh.

He has placed different people in authority, only exception being if they tell us to disobey Yahweh. Then that cannot be a command from Yahweh, so we don't do that.

This is one of the key differences between Yahushua and others, and between Yahushua's disciples and others. They refused to complain.

Luke 5:30 - And their scribes and the Pharisees complained against His disciples, saying, "Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?"

Luke 5:31 - Yahushua answered and said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.

Luke 19:7 - But when they saw [it], they all complained, saying, "He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner."

John 6:41 - The Jews then complained about Him, because He said, "I am the bread which came down from heaven."

Those who are blinded by unbelief were the murmurers. It was the murmurers in John 6 who were even His disciples, but they walked away from Him.

John 6:66 - From that [time] many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.

Why? They complained about what He said. They didn't like what He said. I am the true bread that came down from heaven. They complained about Him being the Passover, partaking of His body, partaking of His blood. They complained about
Him being the Passover. We have to read the context.

John 6:67 - Then Yahushua said to the twelve, "Do you also want to go away?"

John 6:68 - But Simon Peter answered Him, "Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.

See, they were focused on trusting and believing. It was the food that
Yahushua gave that compelled them to follow. I've learned this when raising sheep, if the sheep get loose out of their pen, all I have to do, if I want them to go back in their pen, actually the pasture, is take some food, shake some grain, and they will follow me wherever I go.

They'll follow me through the woods, over the river, down the holler, back up again.

Just keep shaking that grain. If they know you have food, they will follow you.

It didn't seem too glorious until I really thought about it, but that is why we follow Yahushua, because of the food He provides, the Words of eternal life. When we partake of Him, the Words of eternal life, that's what compels us to follow Him, to keep us from turning away from Him. Because of His Words.

He is not just the Word in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, but He is the Word in all of Scripture. Maybe they didn't know where Yahushua was going to take them next, but they knew He was the One that Yahweh Himself chose to lead them. So many times they didn't understand, but they still stayed with them. Other times they were given understanding.

If you look in Scripture at the ultimate example, Yahushua haMashiach, you can look diligently, but you will never find one place where He ever complained about His circumstances. He understood. He had a calling, and He was to walk out that calling. You have a calling, too, and you need to walk out that calling that Yahweh has given you.

Yahushua was perfect and sinless before the eyes of Yahweh, and yet He was marred more than any man. He was tortured, hung, and killed by His enemies, and betrayed by
His friends. Oh, you deserve better, right? No. No, you don't. Neither do I.

1Peter 2:21 - For to this you were called, because Messiah also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:

1Peter 2:22 - "Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth";

1Peter 2:23 - who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed [Himself] to Him who judges righteously;

Do we believe, brothers and sisters, do we believe? Do we trust Yahweh's leading in our life, or do we dishonor Him by complaining about what He is doing in our lives? When you choose to be content in all circumstances, you are preaching repentance, because all the world complains when they encounter difficulties.

So when we rejoice before Yahweh, and even leap for joy, as Yahushua said, when we suffer persecution, doesn't that stand out as being different? Yes, and that glorifies Yahweh because in our contentment we are proclaiming Yahweh ways are just and right, and we are going to trust Him in everything.

When the world sees us having trials, yet we complain not, we are preaching repentance to them.

We preach they should also submit to Yahweh's leading in their life no matter what, because we have hope in that. There is no hope in any other path. No hope. No future. Just a dead end road. If we are disciples of Yahushua, whatever situation we are in, the Shepherd is in the lead.

Don't murmur against Him. Your walk is ordained by Yahweh. He is leading us to the Promised Land. He is leading us across the Jordan.

Sometimes unpleasant circumstances. Sometimes great things will come from unpleasant circumstances. Yahushua endured a very unpleasant circumstance, and it brought salvation to the entire world.

All things. All things without complaining and disputing. I hope that sums it up, right there. Do all things, not some things, all things without complaining and disputing. What a bright light that can shine. Let's not let our journey toward the Promised Land to come to a horrible end. Instead, let's do all things without complaining and disputing. Why?

So that we can become blameless and harmless, blameless and harmless, children of Elohim without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation among whom you shine as lights in the world. If we do all things without complaining and murmuring, brothers, I'll tell you what, you will shine ever brighter.

You will stick out like a bright light, like maybe a city on a hill that can't be hidden.

You will shine like a lamp that gives light to the whole house. The lamp starts with the household, though, brothers. Then you can be a city of houses full of light. Then you can be the city on the hill that cannot be hidden. Let's not allow our end to end up like this:

Numbers 11:1 - Now [when] the people complained, it displeased YAHWEH; for YAHWEH heard [it], and His anger was aroused. So the fire of YAHWEH burned among them, and consumed [some] in the outskirts of the camp.

Don't let it end like this, or, Yahweh says:

Numbers 14:22 - "because all these men who have seen My glory and the signs which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have put Me to the test now these ten times, and have not heeded My voice,

Numbers 14:23 - "they certainly shall not see the land of which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who rejected Me see it.

Numbers 16:31 - Now it came to pass, as he finished speaking all these words, that the ground split apart under them,

Numbers 16:32 - and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the men with Korah, with all [their] goods.

Don't let it end like this.

1Corinthians 10:8 - Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell;

1Corinthians 10:9 - nor let us tempt Messiah, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents;

1Corinthians 10:10 - nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer.

1Corinthians 10:11 - Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

These things are our examples. Let's not repeat those examples.

Psalms 106:22 - Wondrous works in the land of Ham, Awesome things by the Red Sea.

Psalms 106:23 - Therefore He said that He would destroy them, Had not Moses His chosen one stood before Him in the breach, To turn away His wrath, lest He destroy [them].

Psalms 106:24 - Then they despised the pleasant land; They did not believe His word,

Psalms 106:25 - But complained in their tents, [And] did not heed the voice of YAHWEH.

How about that? In their tents. All their murmuring, maybe it wasn't even public. It was just secret stuff, in their tents. And did not heed the voice of Yahweh. Sometimes our circumstances aren't necessarily Yahweh's ultimate will.

Sometimes our circumstances are actually negative because of our own sin, because of the choices we have made in our life.

We are going through hardship and trial because we are reaping what we have sown.

Psalms 106:26 - Therefore He raised up His hand [in an oath] against them, To overthrow them in the wilderness,

Psalms 106:17 - The earth opened up and swallowed Dathan, And covered the faction of Abiram.

Lamentations 3:37 - Who [is] he [who] speaks and it comes to pass, [When] YAHWEH has not commanded [it]?

Lamentations 3:38 - [Is it] not from the mouth of the Most High That woe and well-being proceed?

Lamentations 3:39 - Why should a living man complain, A man for the punishment of his sins?

Lamentations 3:40 - Let us search out and examine our ways, And turn back to YAHWEH;

So rather than complaining, look for something in your life Yahweh is trying to perfect, and repent of that thing, because you may just be suffering punishment for your sin. Maybe you are not really doing what Yahushua did, getting persecuted for righteousness, but you are being chastened by Yahweh because of your unrighteousness.

You have to look at both. Don't think you're always a bed of roses. Chances are you're not.

I know I'm not a bed of roses.

Psalms 50:15 - Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me."

Psalms 34:19 - Many [are] the afflictions of the righteous, But YAHWEH delivers him out of them all.

Awesome words. It is okay to pray for Yahweh's deliverance, but when you pray for Yahweh's deliverance, don't be anxious for anything (Phil 4:6-7). You've made your requests known, you've been thankful, now let the peace of Elohim which surpasses any understanding dwell in your hearts.

And while you are there, rejoice in Yahweh and give praise to Him. That is a praise of sacrifice He will accept.

Psalms 27:6 - And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to YAHWEH.

So give praise instead of complaint.

Romans 8:28 - And we know that all things work together for good to those who love Elohim, to those who are the called according to [His] purpose.

Romans 8:29 - For whom He foreknew, He also predestined [to be] conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.

That is His goal. In every circumstance we are in His goal is to conform us to the image of His Son that He might be the firstborn among many
brethren. Yahweh tests us.

Deuteronomy 8:2 - "And you shall remember that YAHWEH your Elohim led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you [and] test you, to know what [was] in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.

Deuteronomy 8:3 - "So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every [word] that proceeds from the mouth of YAHWEH.

He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, all these things to conform you to the image of
His Son, who said to the enemy when approached with temptation to turn stones into bread, "Man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of Yahweh."

He made the right choice. What a lesson for us to learn, learning to be conformed to the image of Yahushua, our Redeemer.

Learning to trust in Yahweh with all of our heart. Not leaning to our own understanding.

Psalms 3:5 - I lay down and slept; I awoke, for YAHWEH sustained me.

Psalms 3:6 - I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people Who have set [themselves] against me all around.

Psalms 3:7 - Arise, O YAHWEH; Save me, O my Elohim! For You have struck all my enemies on the cheekbone; You have broken the teeth of the ungodly.

Acknowledge and give honor to Yahweh, trusting the One who knows all things, who is worthy of our trust. Isn't Yahweh worthy of our trust? He is the most powerful Being in the universe. He is worthy of our trust. We have blessed, haven't we, already? So let's walk as Yahushua did.

1John 2:6 - He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

If you don't walk as He walked, you may not get to where He is. Yahweh showed us His righteousness, openly revealed in Yahushua. He is the living Torah. He is that Word made flesh that dwells among us. He is that Torah written in our hearts because He obeyed Torah to perfection.

If that law, that Torah, is in our hearts, it will reflect in the outer layer through obedience to that law, walking as He walked.

Yahushua abides in us. We say that, then let's do what He did. Yahweh wants to place Yahushua's righteousness in us and give us the power to live a sinless and endless life. Let's take this time, prior to Passover, and accept Yahweh's prunings.

Purging out the leaven, letting the old man die, so that Yahushua, the
Anointed One, the One who came to serve, will reign as King in our hearts.

We have to accept Him as King right now and let Him reign over us right now. Forget the self rule. Forget the satanic rule. Let's let Yahushua rule over us, or do you want to rule? Would you rather reign or have Yahushua reign. You can't have both. There is only one King, the King of Kings.

Luke 19:26 - `For I say to you, that to everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.

There are the haves, and there are the have nots.

Luke 19:27 - `But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay [them] before me.'"

Yahushua gave this parable. Do we want Yahushua to reign over us? That which we have can be taken away, what we think we have. And if not, and we fall, we'll die in the desert, perish in our own sins. We need to let Yahushua, a man like Moshe, be the one that we accept as our King, our leader, be the One to take us across the Jordan.

We are all going to die anyway, we might as well die for a good reason.

Why not believe the Good News and self die, right now, so He can reign therein. Although Yahushua is a King, nothing was beneath Him, in terms of serving. Nothing was beneath Him. On the same night His disciples partook of Him as the Passover Lamb, He taught us what it means to be in leadership.

He taught us what it means to be a Shepherd. He taught us what it means to be the King.

John 13:3 - Yahushua, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from Elohim and was going to Elohim,

John 13:4 - rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself.

John 13:5 - After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe [them] with the towel with which He was girded.

John 13:6 - Then He came to Simon Peter. And [Peter] said to Him, "Master, are You washing my feet?"

John 13:7 - Yahushua answered and said to him, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this."

John 13:8 - Peter said to Him, "You shall never wash my feet!" Yahushua answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me."

John 13:9 - Simon Peter said to Him, "Master, not my feet only, but also [my] hands and [my] head!"

John 13:10 - Yahushua said to him, "He who is bathed needs only to wash [his] feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you."

John 13:11 - For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, "You are not all clean."

John 13:12 - So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you?

John 13:13 - "You call me Teacher and Master, and you say well, for [so] I am.

John 13:14 - "If I then, [your] Master and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.

John 13:15 - "For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.

Brothers, it is for this reason, on the night of Passover, before partaking of the body and blood of Messiah, we do wash one another's feet. I think it prepares our hearts, puts in the right spirit, and humbles us in preparation of the taking of the Messiah, helping us to insure that we don't partake of Him in an unworthy manner. Yahushua said:

John 13:16 - "Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him.

John 13:17 - "If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

If you what? Do them. So my challenge for myself and for all of us is, brothers, are we serving one another? In what ways are you serving the brotherhood today? If we can't think of anything, how can we call ourselves Yahushua's disciples?

Serving the brethren is what He was all about. I know distance sometimes separates us from being able to serve each other as we would like to.

Do we realize we are not on this journey alone? Do we realize we're not in this wilderness just by ourselves? We actually are all together. Maybe not physically, but in spirit. We're in this wilderness together, and we can draw strength from each other if we are willing to wash each other's feet and to be our brother's keeper.

How many times Yahweh chooses to identify Himself by the awesome act of Israel.

He would often say, "I am the One who brought you out of the land of Egypt. Brothers, He wants to bring us all out of Egypt together. He wants to be the Yahweh that brings us out of the land of Mitzrayim, out of Egypt.

We just need to not go back there, like the children of Israel wanted to when they cried out with their voices and said it's better to appoint a captain and go back to Egypt. Let's not go there. Let's move forward.

There are a lot of captains that want to take you back. There are a lot of false prophets who say you can forsake Torah, and you can still make it. Don't let them be your captain. Let Yahushua be your captain. He kept Torah. Let's follow His example.

Let's allow Him to reign through us and over us. We look and see the great work Yahweh has done to reveal to us what He wants us to do.

This year, every year, let's walk as Yahushua walked so that we can be where He is. Over the Jordan. Even if no one else did go with us, even if we are just a Caleb and a Joshua, two men out of millions that make it, we have got to go forward, and we cannot fear.

The enemy is after us. We can't fear. With Yahushua, His Word, before us, and the world behind us, let' press on.

Press on to the Promised Land, where righteousness will reign, and Yahweh will be the King. This year, let's seek diligently for the leaven that Yahweh wants us to purge out of our lives. Let's set aside our own things this year. Let's seek the things of the Father.

This year, let's allow Him to reign over us at all times, every minute of every day,
bringing the King of kings into our home and into our hearts.

And through it all, brothers, we have a time of great rejoicing waiting for us. Let's all be found there together. May Yahweh bless you, and may Yahweh have mercy on us all.